This novel from beloved writer Norton and coauthor Miller begins a new fantasy series: The Cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan. Fans of Norton's classic Witch World stories will find familiar terrain in this tale of a crumbling kingdom besieged by dark forces. Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan are the four legendary powers of the world, now fallen on hard times after years of warfare and mutual betrayal. Weak-willed Boroth, King of Oak, and his scheming wife, Ysa, sorcerous Queen of Yew, hold the monarchy for now. Desperate to escape the ancient prophesy that a Daughter of Ash will claim the throne, Ysa orders the death of Boroth's runaway lover, Lady Alditha of Ashe--without knowing Alditha has already given birth to Boroth's bastard daughter, Ashen. Years pass. Boroth's health fails. As Ysa grooms her unworthy son, Florian, to inherit the throne, Ashen is raised by Zazar, a wise woman living with the Bog Folk. When Zazar dies before she can warn the girl of her true heritage, Ashen must trust her instincts and the little magic she knows for protection. After she saves Obern, the dashing son of Snolli, High Chief of the Sea Rovers, who seek alliance against enemies from the north, Ashen and Obern travel to court with Lord Harous, who distrusts Ysa's intentions. Here book 1 concludes, almost as soon as the story really begins. While Norton fans will be eager to read her newest book, they're likely to be disappointed by its slow pace and minimal storyline. --Charlene Brusso


From Library Journal
Born to a mother who dies in childbirth, the girl known as Ashen grows up among the wild people of the swamps, raised by a witch yet marked by destiny as a daughter of Ash. Veteran sf and fantasy author Norton combines her formidable storytelling talent with coauthor Miller (Ladylord) to create a new seriesDthe "Oak, Yew, Ash and Rowan" cycleDthat should appeal to adult and teenage fans of high fantasy. Featuring an engaging and courageous female protagonist, this epic tale of hidden heirs and unfolding prophecies is for most fantasy collections. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Review
"Andre Norton is a superb storyteller."--Chicago Tribune

"Sasha Miler writes fantasy for grown-ups. Ladylord is original, inventive....Try it."--Raymond E. Feist



Review
"Andre Norton is a superb storyteller."--Chicago Tribune

"Sasha Miler writes fantasy for grown-ups. Ladylord is original, inventive....Try it."--Raymond E. Feist



Book Description
To the King a Daughter begins the cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan: the four powers of the world who have been warring for centuries. The Clan of Ash is slowly dying, their totem tree in the sacred square withering away to nothing. There is a prophecy that a daughter of Ash will rise again, but none have survived the mass killings, thereby rendering the prophecy unfillable.

But deep in the swamps, in the care of the witch-healer all need and all fear, there is a young girl-woman who can not be the witch's daughter; a girl who, in fact, by virtue of her beauty and elegance and simmering power, can only be a Daughter of Ash, the one who will rise to fulfill the prophecy--and the destiny of her birthright.



About the Author
For well over a half century, Andre Norton has been one of the most popular science fiction and fantasy authors in the world. Since her first SF novels were published in the 1940s, her adventure SF has enthralled readers young and old. With series such as Time Traders, Solar Queen, Forerunner, Beast Master, Crosstime, and Janus, as well as many stand-alone novels, her tales of action and adventure throughout the galaxy have drawn countless readers to science fiction.

Her fantasy, including the best-selling Witch World series, her "Magic" series, and many other unrelated novels, has been popular with readers for decades. Lauded as a Grand Master by the Science Fiction Writers of America, she is the recipient of a Life Achievement Award from the World Fantasy Convention. Not only have her books been enormously popular; she also has inspired several generations of SF and fantasy writers, especially many talented women writers who have followed in her footsteps. In the past two decades she has worked with other writers on a number of novels. Most notable among these are collaborations with Mercedes Lackey, the Halfblood Chronicles, as well as collaborations with A.C. Crispin (in the Witch World series) and Sherwood Smith (in the Time Traders and Solar Queen series). An Ohio native, Ms. Norton lived for a number of years in Winter Park, Florida, and now makes her home in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where she continues to write, and presides over High Hallack, a writers' resource and retreat.

Sasha Miller has published: Three Ships and Three Kings, Priam's Daughter, The Last Heracles (under her former married name of Georgia Sallaska), The Quest (under the pen name G.S. Madden), Falcon Magic; Ladylord, and a tetralogy with Andre Norton: To The King a Daughter, Knight or Knave, A Crown Denied, and Dragon Blade, scheduled for late 2003, in addition to numerous short stories. Her nonfiction book, Mother Miller's How To Write Good Book, is currently available from FoxAcre Press. She is a member of the Authors' Guild and SFWA, and is a Clarion '84 survivor. Married to Ben W. Miller, she resides with him in Colorado Springs.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan; the four powers of the world, all once great and mighty, now yielding to the effects of centuries of war. A King of Oak and a Queen of Yew sit on the thrones of the land - the King a drunken lout, the Queen a magical schemer. Ash and Rowan are nearly dead, their totem trees in the sacred square withering away to nothing." "All is falling into place for the power-hungry Queen Ysa, who will stop at nothing to ensure the continuation of her line. Her expertise in the dark arts all but guarantees her success, and the wooden rings of royalty have transferred themselves to her hands of their own accord. Nothing and no one escapes her notice or her wrath. Only one thing may stand in her way: a long-ago prophecy that a Daughter of Ash will one day rise again to reclaim her rightful place on the throne. Queen Ysa's shrewd machinations have seen to it that none of the House of Ash remains alive, and she is content that her rule is secure." "But deep in the swamps, in the care of the witch-healer all need and fear, there is a young girl-woman who cannot be the witch's daughter; a girl who, in fact, by virtue of her beauty, elegance, and simmering power can only be a Daughter of Ash, the one who will rise to fulfill the prophecy - and the destiny of her birthright.

FROM THE CRITICS

VOYA

Ashen, illegitimate daughter and chosen heir of King Boroth of Rendel, was raised in the Bale-Bog. When her mother, Alditha, who was fleeing assassins rumored to be of her own household, died in childbirth, she unknowingly entrusted her baby daughter to the Wysen-wyf, Zazar, who dwelt among the mysterious and primitive Bog-folk. Ashen is sheltered until the age of sixteen when Harous, a nobleman, returns her to court to take her rightful position as heir to the king. Boroth is dying, however, and his wife, Ysa, has conspired to wrest the rings of power from her husband's hands and hold them as regent for her son, Florian. When Ashen is presented at the bedside of the dying king and recognized as his heir, Boroth expires, and Ysa proclaims Florian king. The premise of this fantasy is innovative, with the four trees￯﾿ﾽoak, yew, ash, and rowan￯﾿ﾽserving as symbols for the major households of Rendel. The main characters are all strong, intelligent females. Although the basic elements are in place, this fantasy is slow going in places. The dialogue is often stiff and stilted: "He dies? The King my father dies?" The ending is anticlimactic, leaving many elements unresolved, perhaps intentionally, to pave the way for future books in the Cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan. Its fairy tale quality and lack of explicit violence make this book an appropriate choice for younger teens. Norton is the well-known author of Scent of Magic (Avon, 1998) and Four from the Witchworld (Tor, 2000/VOYA August 1989). Ladylord (Tor, 1996) is Miller's first book. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J S (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined asgrades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2000, Tor, 320p. Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Nancy Wallace VOYA, February 2001 (Vol. 23, No.6)

Library Journal

Born to a mother who dies in childbirth, the girl known as Ashen grows up among the wild people of the swamps, raised by a witch yet marked by destiny as a daughter of Ash. Veteran sf and fantasy author Norton combines her formidable storytelling talent with coauthor Miller (Ladylord) to create a new series--the "Oak, Yew, Ash and Rowan" cycle--that should appeal to adult and teenage fans of high fantasy. Featuring an engaging and courageous female protagonist, this epic tale of hidden heirs and unfolding prophecies is for most fantasy collections. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\

Kirkus Reviews

First of a fantasy trilogy from grandmaster Norton (Wind in the Stone, 1999, etc.) and Miller (Ladylord, 1996). In Rendel, Queen Alditha, last of the royal Ash line, flees from pursuing Yew troops into the Bale-Bog, where she dies in childbirth. Her daughter, Ashen, is fostered by one of the Fates, Zazar, who notes the girl's magical proclivities. Satisfied that Alditha is dead, ambitious Yew Queen Ysa focuses on her Oak husband, King Boroth, who lies dying in a protracted, drunken fashion. His heir is spoiled-brat Prince Florian, of whom even his mother Ysa despairs of his fitness to rule. In the north, meanwhile, as an ancient evil stirs, eruptions, quakes, and climatic upheavals force the Sea-Rovers and their captain, Snolli, to scout for territories farther south; they settle in abandoned Ash lands, much to the annoyance of Ysa. So low does Boroth sink that his royal rings, Yew, Oak, Rowan, and Ash, abandon his fingers and migrate to Ysa's hands; overjoyed, she finds that she's at last able to work powerful magic. In the Bog, Zazar departs, leaving a teenaged Ashen to find her own way; wary of mysterious and influential invaders, Ashen comes upon Obern, Snolli's son, injured during a reconnaissance mission. They head for Rendelsham and Queen Ysa, just as Boroth breathes his last.